August 2022 Newsletter
Updated: Jul 30, 2022
And the Beat Goes On....
As I am sitting here getting ready to write this month's lead in to the RBMS Newsletter, the Hazy, Hot and Humid days of Summer have arrived. And I realize we have just crossed the halfway point in time for the Summer of 22. It's hard to believe that not too long ago Summer ‘22 was just beginning, and we all looked forward to the lazy hazy days of summer with great expectations of the good times that were sure to come. As sure as the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening the Beat Goes On, and with it our summer plans are being executed as Father Time continues its march forward.
(Photo Credit Keith Misener)
A unique place to visit this month, if you are into needle point, is the Stitch-Stash store in downtown Rehoboth at 102 North 1st Street. They are a full-service needlepoint store that focuses on customer service and would love to visit with fellow stitchers visiting Rehoboth this summer. Meanwhile, those individuals into biking should stop by
Rehoboth Cycle Sports at 174 Rehoboth Avenue, which has provided over 30 years of bicycling experiences to Rehoboth Beach bicyclists with friendly and expert assistance. After your ride, you can go to the Rehoboth Ale House to meet up with the fellow riders and non-riders in your party, and you all can select from an impressive selection of craft beer while enjoying a stellar atmosphere along with servers who know their stuff.
Another fun eatery, on Rehoboth Avenue, is Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls. Their lobsters come straight from the waters of Maine, and each roll is prepared according to the simple, honest traditions of the people who live there.
If you want a more formal setting, then meander over to Victoria's Restaurant in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel for oceanfront dining in an intimate setting overlooking the beach and boardwalk.
Among the many fine businesses located in downtown Rehoboth Beach is ISH Boutique: a must visit place offering unique high-quality women's Bohemian beach attire that is both fun and trendy.
All of these businesses are located in beautiful downtown Rehoboth Beach, and you can read more about them later in this edition of the RBMS Newsletter. Each business invites you to stop in and stay a while, enjoying all that they have to offer for all ages looking for fun things to do while spending time in downtown Rehoboth Beach. And, while there, be sure and tell them you heard about them in the RBMS Newsletter!
Current and past issues of the newsletter are available on the RBMS Website at Newsletter | Home | Rehoboth Beach Main Street (downtownrb.com)
New Businesses & Membership Renewals
RBMS welcomes Rehoboth Beach Paw-radice as a new member!
RBMS thanks The Pines / Aqua Grill for renewing their membership at the Yellow Partner level!
RBMS thanks these businesses for renewing their membership!
· Theo’s Steaks, Sides & Spirits
For information about levels and benefits of RBMS membership, go to Join | Rehoboth Beach Main Street (downtownrb.com)
Showcasing Rehoboth Beach Businesses
Stith-Stash
Stitch-Stash, an RBMS Green Partner, is a full-service needlepoint store in downtown Rehoboth Beach. It is conveniently located at 102 North First Street, between Baltimore Avenue and Maryland Avenue, with easy parking and access to the store.
After a recent tour of this impressive shop, it was crystal clear this is a one-stop needlepoint shop with all the supplies needed for your project—canvases, fibers, accessories, and more! Their website, www.Stitch-Stash.com, has all their items available for sale 24 hours a day.
Every customer of Stitch-Stash has readily learned that customer service is their main focus. They simply love their stitchers!
Stitch-Stash is open all year long, and their hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11:00am–4:00pm. If you need to reach them by phone, please call 302-569-0063.
Rehoboth Cycle Sports
Visitors and residents of Rehoboth Beach often enjoy the many biking options that are available in the area, such as biking on the Junction Breakwater or Georgetown Lewes Trails, peddling around Gordons Pond or through Cape Henlopen Park, or simply biking casually along the many bike lanes in town. Having an outstanding bike shop right in the middle of our city is a definite need.
Rehoboth Cycle Sports, an RBMS Green Partner, fulfills that need! Conveniently located right on Rehoboth Avenue, the bike shop opened just two years ago in the space that used to house Bike to Go. The new owners extensively renovated and modernized the space, and the bike shop has impressed both locals and visitors alike since it opened.
Whether you need a road, commuting, fitness, or children's bike, you are sure to find what you need at Rehoboth Cycle Sports. Bikes at the new shop are available to purchase or rent. They offer a wide variety of outstanding brands, such as Townie and Trek. Looking for an electric bike? Look no further. Customers will find great choices and receive outstanding guidance from the knowledgeable staff! If you are looking for repairs for your current bike, Rehoboth Cycle Sports offers professional repair services.
Rehoboth Cycle Sports vows to give customers the best value for their money; they offer a credit if bicyclists find the same bike for a lower price locally within 30 days of purchase!
Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10:00am–4:00pm, Friday from 10:00am–5:00pm, and Saturday from 9:00am–5:00pm. The shop is closed on Tuesdays. To learn more about Rehoboth Cycle Sports, pop into 174 Rehoboth Ave., call 302-227-7600, or check out their website at www.rehobothcyclesports.com.
Rehoboth Ale House
The Rehoboth Ale House, an RBMS Green Partner, has been a fixture at 15 Wilmington Avenue since 2016—and is still going strong! Selected as the best Delaware Beach restaurant by MIX 99.5 in 2021 and voted by Craftbeer.com as the Delaware 2020 Best Beer bar, the Ale House always aims to please!
The Ale House, located just steps away from the boardwalk, is a perfect place to hang out and chill after a hot day sunbathing on the beach. The bar in the center of the Ale House features many high tables where guests can enjoy beer, wine, and cocktails in comfort. In fact, the bar boasts 20 taps with an outstanding selection of craft beers, as well as wines and cocktails. TVs are everywhere for those who want to keep track of the Nats, the O's, and the Phillies.
A partition separates the cozy dining room from the bar area. There are selections on the menu for everyone, whether you are a carnivore or a vegan! A children’s menu is also available. Diners rave about the mussels and flatbread pizza—and always appreciate the friendly and excellent service.
On weekends and occasionally during the week, the Rehoboth Ale House features live music as well as fun special events such as drunken spelling bees and open mic stand-up comedy nights. To find out who's playing and learn more about what’s happening, just click on the events and entertainment tab on their website, https://rehobothalehouse.com/.
Victoria’s Restaurant
On a perfect summer evening in late June, my brother and his wife were in Rehoboth visiting me for a few days. To avoid the traffic and the crowds, they always come during the week. Knowing that they would appreciate eating outside at a place that was relaxing with a lot of ambiance, I immediately chose Victoria's Restaurant—an RBMS Green Partner.
I always enjoy the charming restaurant overlooking the boardwalk and the ocean and knew it was the perfect choice for my guests. My family was awestruck by the impressive Victorian decor as well as the spectacular views of the beach and the ocean. The maître d' greeted us warmly when we entered; following that, a friendly and efficient waiter provided outstanding and attentive service.
There were excellent selections on the menu. We enjoyed delicious salmon and New York strip steak as well as tasty sides and several glasses of wine. Sadly, we didn't save room for dessert, but the choices on the menu were definitely tempting.
When it was time to use the restroom, we found that walking through the restaurant is like taking a time machine back to the 1890s, the era when Rehoboth Beach was just beginning to boom. Beautiful antique pieces and scrolling latticework are found throughout the restaurant and pub. The attention to detail is quite impressive.
A special treat at Victoria's is afternoon tea, which is held Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3:00pm–5:00pm. What a great thing to do, especially on a rainy day! Click here to learn more about afternoon tea: https://boardwalkplaza.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Victorias-Afternoon-Tea-2022-1.pdf
Overall, we had a fantastic experience! For more information stop by the Boardwalk Plaza hotel website at https://boardwalkplaza.com/dining/ or call for RESERVATIONS: 800-33-BEACH or 302-227-7169. You'll find the hotel conveniently located at 2 Olive Avenue and the Boardwalk.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, an RBMS Green Partner, is a very popular casual restaurant that features sustainable Maine lobster direct from Maine, along with shrimp rolls, clam chowder, lobster bisque, lobster grilled cheese, and Maine Root sodas!
Mason's takes pride in preparing their lobster rolls in the traditional way, with no bells and whistles and no pretension. Mason's offers four varieties of lobster rolls, all served on a toasted split-top New England bun. Their classic lobster roll is served with a bit of mayo, lemon butter, and seasoning, while their Connecticut roll is served warm with butter. Mason’s also offers a lobster salad roll and a lobster BLT roll.
Owner Richard Sharoff said that the restaurant, which is now open for its sixth season at 67 Rehoboth Avenue, near the intersection of 1st Street, is a perfect location, as it is convenient not just to beach goers but to virtually all visitors who come to Rehoboth for shopping and dining. The location is a clean, bright, and inviting dining venue, with limited covered outdoor seating and a sliding glass door that opens to the public for easy access.
The staff at Mason’s is highly experienced and friendly and shares the owner’s enthusiasm and commitment for providing guests with an easily accessible way to get a taste of Maine at the Delaware shore. Open daily 11:00am to 10:00pm. Phone: 302-727-0411.
ish Boutique: Keeping Up with Current Trends & Setting Them, Too!
The ish Boutique, an RBMS Green Partner, is a bohemian beach boutique that offers unique, high-quality goods, fun and trendy finds, and some of the most “style-ish” apparel, accessories, home décor, baby & kid items, clean beauty products & gifts for anyone and everyone!
The ish team takes great pride in what they do, by always setting high standards and exceeding goals. They have an eye for color, constant fresh ideas, and an overall passion for
fashion. The team not only provides coastal chic products, but they promote the coastal lifestyle. The ish Boutique’s social media platforms complement all of its stylish products and create the overall captivating vibe of the beach. You can smell the ocean breeze, feel the crystal sand, and bask in the sunshine all through just their Instagram alone. The ish Boutique paints the mood for those ready to walk the beach with carefree confidence and shine while wearing the latest ish on the market. The ish Boutique is located at 403 Rehoboth Avenue. Phone: 302-212-2577.
Photo Courtesy of Ish Boutique
News from Rehoboth Beach Businesses
RBMS Ribboncutting Held for CoWork Reho
CoWork Reho, an RBMS Yellow Partner, celebrated their grand opening on the boardwalk with a ribbon cutting and summer kickoff party on July 1 amongst family, friends, and newcomers. Participating in the ribboncutting were Jared Bowers, CoWork Reho owner, Hayley Jackson, COO, and RBMS Executive Director Dan Slagle and several RBMS board members. CoWork Reho is Sussex County's only coworking space—and the only direct oceanfront coworking space in the country—filling the need for a quiet and serene place to work while still enjoying an ocean view and all that the Rehoboth area has to offer. With daily, weekly, and yearlong passes, there is an option for everyone. Whether you're on vacation, here for the summer, or live here full time: CoWork Reho hopes to connect with you soon!
CoWork Reho is located at 511 N. Boardwalk. Phone: 302-494-0214.
Congratulations to Rehoboth Beach Main Street member Cashmere Gardens being named Best Upscale Women's Wear Store in the state by Delaware Today in their recent Best of Issue!
Cashmere Gardens is located at 247 Rehoboth Avenue. Phone: 302-260-9407
News from Rehoboth Beach Main Street
This column highlights the work of the RBMS Executive Director, Dan Slagle, the RBMS Board, and the five committees, focusing on the behind-the-scenes work of the staff and volunteers, as well as the activities that are planned and carried out. For information about Dan, the RBMS Board, and the committees, go to About RBMS | Rehoboth Beach Main Street (downtownrb.com).
Recent Activities of RBMS
· Dan Slagle, Executive Director, has been busy meeting and talking with downtown business owners—this month 3 businesses have renewed their RBMS membership, and we have one new business! Dan coordinated and promoted an outdoor Sip & Discover Tasting Event with Love’s Liquors, organized a new-member ribbon-cutting at CoWork Reho, and attended the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce’s mixer.
· The Design Committee continues to develop the Downtown Rehoboth Walking Tour app and is receiving applications for the 2022 Cottage and Town Awards (see article below). Rehoboth in Bloom continues its efforts to beautify downtown Rehoboth Beach. The RIB team is finalizing plans for a new Canalside Garden—hoping to plant in the fall. If anyone wants to support the garden, contributions will be graciously accepted—and, the team is seeking a couple of local construction or landscapers to do some “Boots on the Ground” parts of the project.
· The Organization Committee continues to oversee the Ambassador Program; several Ambassadors have assisted member businesses in locating needed resources and securing information about events to include in the RBMS newsletter and social media postings. The Committee is reviewing commercial apps that will assist RBMS in identifying benefits received by members to ensure that all members receive the benefits they have been promised.
· The Promotions Committee is continuing to develop plans for the Sunday, November 13, Fashion Show, which will take place at the Convention Center and include a champagne luncheon. Committee members are also continuing planning for the Community Unity Dinner (December 4), and December 10 Holiday Stroll—get your holiday sweaters ready for that event!
· The Communications Committee has overseen the updates to the RBMS Website—ensuring that all Partner-level members have images on the home page and/or business directory, that all members are included in the business directory, and the Events page is up-to-date. The Committee continued its ongoing newsletter development and oversight for social media.
NOTE: The work of the RBMS committees is integral to meeting the mission of Rehoboth Beach Main Street: promoting downtown Rehoboth Beach as a year-round beach town with a vibrant commercial area, attractive signage and storefronts, a full calendar of events, and economic programs benefiting the business and residential community. We are seeking volunteers to work on these committees, including Rehoboth In Bloom (part of the Design Committee’s work). You can put as much time into your volunteer work as you have available. Come join us!
Delaware’s Enhanced Plastic Carryout Bag Ban started July 1, 2022
The Delaware General Assembly passed a law banning plastic carryout bags in 2019 to help reduce litter, increase recycling efforts, and lessen the impact of plastic film on machinery at our recycling facilities. This law impacted retail stores with large footprints or medium size stores with multiple locations. Smaller retail stores were not impacted by this law and restaurants were excluded.
In 2021, the Delaware General Assembly enhanced the earlier law by eliminating all plastic film carryout bags at checkout and including all retail stores, regardless of size. Restaurants are still excluded from the ban.
This plastic carryout bag ban went into effect on July 1, 2022, and affects all retail stores in Delaware. Information and helpful ideas are listed below to help assist you in complying with this law:
Please remember, Retail Stores in Delaware cannot provide plastic film bags to customers at checkout. (Restaurants are exempt from this law.)
o Reusable bags made of durable fabric with stitched handles or paper bags are allowed at checkout. You may charge fee for these bags. (You may also choose to not provide bags for your customers.)
o Encourage your customers to bring their own bag when shopping by posting a sign at the entrance to your store: https://documents.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/Recycling/Plastic-Bags/2022-BYOB-Poster-Letter-Color.jpg
o Ask customers if they need a bag for their purchase. Many times, customers may not need a bag.
The plastic film bag ban started on July 1, 2022. You cannot continue using plastic film bags at checkout to deplete your inventory.
o If you have new, unused plastic film bags, consider donating them to:
a local food pantry or Food Bank of Delaware (you may be eligible for a tax write-off);
a local restaurant (for take-out or leftovers and free advertisement for your store); or
a local non-profit thrift store.
· If you have any questions regarding the plastic bag ban, please visit: de.gov/bags for further information.
o Frequently Asked Questions for Retailers:
You may contact DNREC staff with specific questions: Recycle@delaware.gov or (302) 739-9403.
Recognizing Our Volunteers: Jim Mease!
Jim has been volunteering for RBMS for about 2 years and he covers a lot of bases, working for the Design Committee’s Rehoboth in Bloom as well as the Communications Committee as our monthly theme editor, setting the tone for each monthly issue. As a Bloom volunteer, Jim is on a team that cares for six planters around the city (watering, weeding, planting) on Rehoboth Avenue every Tuesday morning.
Jim tells us that he enjoys his volunteer work with RBMS because he gets to meet new people and gets to work on different projects that help to improve the community in which we all live. Jim has been vacationing in Rehoboth since the 1960s when he came from Pennsylvania with his parents and siblings, and then when he and his husband Phil moved back east to Washington DC from Indianapolis, Indiana, they started coming down for weekends. Eventually they bought a mobile home in Camelot and later in Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club (RBYCC).
Jim and Philip have been together for 37 years and were married in DC. Jim has two children: a son, Andrew Mease married to Stephanie with two grandchildren Riley age 10 and Harper age 8; and Amanda, married to Eric Zuck with 4 grandchildren Carson age 12, Melody age 8, Elliott age 3 and Ian age 4 months.
Jim leads an active life in Rehoboth Beach, in addition to his volunteer work with RBMS and CAMP Rehoboth, he is an avid runner and also enjoys biking, swimming/beach time, Tai Chi, Yoga, bowling, and traveling—in both the US and overseas. Jim also volunteers for CAMP Rehoboth (a Main Street Business Member!) where he has worked for six or so years on a number of initiatives including Sundance, Sun Festival, Block Party, CAMPCierge, and the Hand Made Market.
Jim joined the Army after high school and served for 2 1/2 years before being honorably discharged. After that, Jim returned home to Lebanon, Pa. and started working as a civilian employee in the Army Finance and Accounting Office at Ft. Indiantown Gap eventually transferring to the US Army Finance and Accounting Office (USAFAC) at Fort Ben Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. From Indy he transferred to Washington DC in 1990 as a member of a team that created the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), and then back to the Army working for the newly created Installation Management Command (IMA) before being assigned to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller (ASAFM&C) at the Pentagon, where he was detailed as Assistant Deputy Director for Finance Operations in the Overseas Division. Jim was detailed to Army Central Command (ARCENT) out of Ft. McPherson, Georgia, and notably with duty in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan, about 30 miles outside of Kuwait City. While in Kuwait he supported the war effort in both Iraq and Afghanistan, looking for ways to improve and automate the Department’s financial management systems in order to reduce the amount of cash the US was placing in the Theater of Operations. Jim retired from the Department of Defense in 2012 after a 42-year career.
RBMS has the gift of a remarkable talent in Jim. He covers so many bases for us and steps forward to help in so many ways with a collaborative spirit, creativity, and much good humor. Many, many thanks to Jim Mease, our August volunteer of the month.
A Reminder: Southern Delaware Tourism Sidekick App Is Available to Rehoboth Beach Businesses!
In the July issue of the RBMS Newsletter we reported that Southern Delaware Tourism has developed a FREE, comprehensive web-based app, SouthDel Sidekick App designed to:
· Attract visitors to your business when they are in the area,
· Collect customer data for targeted marketing,
· Add qualified prospects to your email list, and
· Increase business during slow periods.
We’re including the information again in this issue of the newsletter: Rehoboth Beach businesses can benefit from this app and should consider adding it to your business marketing plans.
To sign up for the free app, the process is super simple! First, you will create a Business Profile through this link. Once you complete the online form, your business is officially active on the app! From there, you can describe your business and depending on the type of business, you can upload photos, menus, events—anything you want or need. For instance, hotels can create a personalized dashboard—Onstay—complete with your existing brand, that will provide a user-friendly and comprehensive platform for guests. Your Onstay dashboard will look like your already existing website, but will live in the app, allowing you to track visits to the site and the number of bookings.
Restaurants, breweries, retailers, and amusement and activity providers can upload Super Deals. With Super Deals you can create offers and specials throughout the year, which will bring leads to your business and accumulate foot traffic and customer email addresses to enhance your internal marketing efforts. To create your Super Deal, click on this link.
For more information about Onstay or Super Deals, contact Morgan Lacy at morgan@visitsouthdelaware.com.
Nominations Open for RBMS Cottage & Town Awards through August 12
The Rehoboth Beach Main Street Design Committee is pleased to announce that this year’s prestigious Cottage and Town Awards will be sponsored by Turnstone Custom Builders. The awards recognize residential and commercial property owners who contribute to the “charm and beauty and history of Rehoboth Beach through architectural and landscape architectural renovation, restoration, and preservation.” Any home, landscape design, or commercial project that was started by July 2020 and completed by July 2022 in the city of Rehoboth are eligible for nomination. Anyone can nominate a building or landscape design. You do not have to be a Rehoboth Beach resident to nominate, but the property must be within the Rehoboth Beach city limits to be nominated.
Winners will receive a bronze plaque, which is suitable for mounting to the home or business façade. Nomination forms are available on the RBMS website under the Events tab; nominations close on August 12. For more information, please contact RBMS Executive Director Dan Slagle at 302-227-2772, dan@downtownrb.com, or committee chair Suzie Martin at martinsuzie@gmail.com. The winners will be announced Friday, August 19. A reception and plaque awards ceremony will be held shortly afterwards.
Rehoboth Beach Walking Tour on Built Story
What is Built Story you say? Well, it is just about one of the coolest new apps to create a walking tour on your phone. The Design Committee’s Matt Gaffney and Cindy Lovett, with LOADS of help from Jerry Filbin and Peter Pizzolongo, are working on the final tasks to create “Rehoboth Then and Now.” The tour costs $10, with half going to RBMS and the other half to the app creators. Setting up the tour is free, with lots of tech help from the app creators. Liane Hansen and David Warick have graciously agreed to narrate the audio, and Rich Morel will record the story. You can either listen to their audio or read the script yourself, any time of the day or night. Release is scheduled for August—as soon as we can get all the tasks completed. And the wonderful thing about Built Story is that RBMS can create up to 30 tours on our site! We already have way too many ideas for future tours!
RBMS Fall Fashion Festival
Mark your calendars! The RBMS First Annual Fall Fashion Festival, “On the Avenue,” will take place on Sunday, November 13, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. This festive event will provide the opportunity to see the fabulous fashions available from Rehoboth Beach’s fine retailers! Individual tickets are $75.00 for the catered luncheon, prepared by The Pines, and the runway fashion show.
How can you participate?
There are a number of opportunities:
RBMS Members: You can participate for FREE—provide five outfits and five models for the choreographed runway fashion show.
RBMS Non-members: For $175, you can participate with five outfits and five models.
For $250, you can have a table-top booth display for selling your products to our expected 320 attendees.
You can donate a gift card for the raffle baskets.
Sponsorships are available:
$1,000 Silver Sponsorship, entitles you to four tickets with catered luncheon table signage and your logo displayed throughout the event and on the RBMS Website.
$2,500 Gold Sponsorship, entitles you to eight tickets (one table) with catered luncheon table signage and your logo displayed throughout the event and on the RBMS Website.
$5,000 Platinum Sponsorship, entitles you to 16 tickets (two tables) with catered luncheon table signage and your logo displayed throughout the event and on the RBMS Website.
Looking forward to seeing y’all at the Fall Fashion Festival! Tickets will be available beginning in September—check out the RBMS Website for information and to purchase tickets. If you have any questions about the fashion show, please contact Robyn Rosenfeld-Aburrow at runaboutllc@aol.com or Cliff Martell Fantini at Martellgroup@aol.com.
CAMP Rehoboth SUNFESTIVAL 2022
Get your tickets now! They are selling fast—and have sold out in the past—to the CAMP Rehoboth SUNFESTIVAL 2022, Labor Day Weekend, September 3-4, 2022, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. This is an amazing fun-filled event that is the year's biggest fundraiser for CAMP Rehoboth, Delaware's Largest LGBTQ+ community center.
The excitement begins on Friday, September 3, where you can laugh with Emmy Award-winning comedian Judy Gold and purchase cool items from the live and silent auctions. The fun continues on Saturday, September 4, when SUNDANCE returns (after two-years). Dance the night away at the twilight tea with DJ Robbie Leslie, or stay later to party with DJ James Anthony.
More information and tickets can be found at: http://camprehoboth.com/sunfestival2022.
Beach Trips Can Be Costly to the Environment
Here’s How to Reduce Your Impact
This is an adaptation of an article that appeared in the Washington Post on July 16, 2022, authored by Allyson Chiu. Online: How to plan a sustainable beach vacation - The Washington Post
Hundreds of millions of Americans flock to coastal areas each year—and these trips can contribute to the staggering effects of human activities on beaches and oceans. It’s important that we beachgoers do not contribute to the problems caused by pollution (especially from plastics) and climate change. In a recent article in The Washington Post, the author identifies ways in which beachgoers can reduce our impact on the environment. Recommendations include:
· Starting at home, reduce nonpoint source pollution that occurs from runoff. If we overwater our lawns, don’t clean up after pets, litter in the streets, etc., all of that washes down storm drains or over land into a local waterway—and from there it likely ends up in the ocean, impacting water quality and habitat. So: We shouldn’t over-fertilize our lawns and should choose to grow native plants that don’t require fertilizer and that are well adapted to local climate. We should also take every step to make sure that our homes have good wastewater treatment whether they are on municipal or county sewer systems or domestic septic systems.
· We can also reduce our environmental footprint by carefully considering options for travel, accommodations, and meals. Taking the train, renting an electric vehicle, carpooling—these are more environmentally friendly options for travel. For accommodations, look for affordable housing within walking or bicycling distance to the beach, and look for places to stay that are investing in greener practices. Food choices have an impact as well. If you’re having seafood, opt for more sustainable offerings from the ocean. For the latter, an excellent resource is the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.
Here at the beach—we have many opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment and protect our local tourism-based economy.
· To minimize the amount of trash we produce, avoid disposable packaging and single-use plastics. Pack food or snacks in reusable containers and bring your own water bottles and utensils. Bring a mesh bag or other receptacle to collect your trash or garbage left by others. (How rude!).
· Use sunscreen that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. (Check out the Washington Post article for a list of chemicals to look out for.)
· Respect the environment and remember our actions protect the scenic beauty and services that these ecosystems provide to us. Look for signage that lets you know what you can and cannot do, such as not venturing into areas that are roped off (typically nesting sites). Avoid walking or playing on sand dunes and beach grass. Use designated channels for boating and jet skiing (to protect marine life and habitat). Do not get too close or interact with wildlife.
The bottom line: Leave no trace. In addition to picking up after yourself, do your own beach cleanup. Take your trash with you to dispose of once you’re off the beach—overflowing beach trashcans can result in trash being caught by the wind and end up on the beach or in the ocean. As you’re leaving the beach, take only pictures and leave only footprints.
Enjoy the beach—and leave it for others to enjoy, as well!
Save the Date
The Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays, 10:00am–2:00pm
Grove Park
The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from May through October. They have 33 amazing vendors that can’t wait to welcome you back for the Farmers Market’s 16TH SEASON!! Stay tuned for more details on the Farmers Market Facebook page.
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Concert Series
Friday–Sunday, unless noted otherwise, 8:00pm
The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Summer Concert Series takes place every year from mid-June through Labor Day Weekend and has been providing FREE entertainment for Rehoboth Beach and its visitors since 1963! Each year, over 40 bands are selected to perform in an open-air concert venue just steps from the beach. The goal of the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand is to provide entertainment through music, movies, variety acts, and other local, regional, and national performances.
All performances begin at 8:00pm, Friday–Sunday (unless noted). All concerts are sponsored by the City of Rehoboth Beach. To apply for a performance, please visit the information page on the City’s website: www.rehobothbandstand.com
Browseabout Books Book Signing with Author Dwight Chapin
Wednesday, August 3, 1:00–4:00pm
133 Rehoboth Avenue
Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach will host a book-signing event with The President’s Man memoir author Dwight Chapin. Mr. Chapin was an advisor, confidant, and a friend to Richard Nixon. Most importantly, he knew Richard Nixon longer and more intimately than almost any other person outside Nixon’s family.
Browseabout Books Book Signing with Author Aggie Blum Thompson
Thursday, August 4, 12:30–3:30pm
133 Rehoboth Avenue
Set in the upscale DC private school scene, where silence and prestige are sought and can be easily bought, Aggie Blum Thompson’s All the Dirty Secrets asks how far you would be willing to go to protect your status and family, and if some secrets should ever be revealed. All The Dirty Secrets is Aggie’s second novel—a thriller into the behind the scenes of the lives that DC’s elite truly lead.
Gallery 50 contemporary art & frame shop
“A Weekend with Thom” Art Show Opening Night Reception
Friday August 12, 5:30–8:00pm
50a Wilmington Avenue
Thom Millsap has traveled and painted extensively for the last 35 years. The diversity of his travels can be witnessed in any given painting. The flowers on a table may be from a hotel in London, the vase from a shop in Spain, and a boat resting on a beach may be from the Delmarva region of Delaware. Join Gallery 50 for the exhibition’s opening night reception to meet the artist and enjoy a wonderful collection of his new works. The exhibition runs through August 30.
9 TO 5
June 24 to August 27
The hit 1980 film gets the musical treatment by one of its Grammy Award-winning original stars in this show with big heart and even bigger show-stopping songs! Jaded matriarch Violet, buxom backwoods secretary Doralee, and mistreated newcomer Judy are all under the employ of the overbearing womanizer Franklin Hart, Jr. These three unlikely cohorts team up and hatch a plan to get even with their egotistical, tyrannical boss. All of the madcap hilarity of the movie is intact, intertwined with Dolly Parton’s score that is part Broadway and part pop, a little bit country, and all toe-tapping fun! Purchase tickets at Buy: 9 to 5 (force.com)
Grease
June 28 to August 23
Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks, and take a trip to a simpler time as ’bad boy’ Danny and ’the girl next door’ Sandy fall in love all over again in the original high school musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie including “You’re The One That I Want,” “We Go Together,” “Summer Nights,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” and many more! Purchase tickets at Buy: Grease (2022) (force.com)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
July 1 to August 25
One of the most enduring shows of all time, this is a reimagining of the Biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, eleven brothers, and the coat of many colors. Told entirely through song, the musical follows preferred son Joseph from his brothers selling him into slavery, to ingratiating himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, to discovering his ability to interpret dreams, to helping the Elvis-inspired Pharaoh to find the solution to Egypt’s famine—which elevates him to Pharaoh’s right-hand man and reunites him with his family. The magical musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of styles, including a parody of French ballads, country-western, and calypso, along with the unforgettable classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.” Purchase tickets at Buy: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (force.com)
Saturday Morning Children’s Theatre 2022
July 2 - August 20
Remember Saturday morning cartoons? Go back to a time when we weren’t glued to cell phones and modern technology, but instead ran to see what fate befell our favorite characters! With that in mind, Clear Space has developed a new summer Children’s Theatre Series performed by kids for kids each Saturday at 11:00am. Clear Space brings you half-hour versions of the beloved classics SLEEPYHEAD: A Sleeping Beauty Story and IN THE NEVERLAND: A Peter Pan Adventure.
General admission $5. Children are invited to sit on the stage.
DATES - All shows at 11:00am.
August 6 – PETER PAN August 13 – SLEEPYHEAD August 20 – PETER PAN
Purchase tickets at: Buy: Saturday Morning Children's Theatre 2022 (force.com)
Fire Fightin’ 5K Race
Sunday, August 21, 8:00am
Benefit: Rehoboth Fire Company
219 Rehoboth Avenue
Join the Seashore Striders in Rehoboth Beach for the 8th annual Rehoboth Fire Company Fire Fightin' 5K Race. The Fire Fightin' 5K is a flat and fast course through the town of Rehoboth Beach. The race will start and finish at the Station (219 Rehoboth Avenue) with a beautiful course through Rehoboth Beach, taking in the boardwalk and the ocean.
Benevolence Night at Dogfish Head Brewing and Eats
Benefit: Rehoboth Beach Main Street
Wednesday, August 24, 5:00–9:00pm
320 Rehoboth Avenue
Come out and eat and/or drink for a cause! On Wednesday, August 24, Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats will host a Benevolence Night in honor of Rehoboth Beach Main Street. 10% of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to RBMS.
13th SUN FESTIVAL 5K & 1M WALK
Sunday, August 28, 8:00am
Start & Finish at the Bandstand
Join fellow CAMP Rehoboth supporters for the 13th annual Sun Festival 5K & IM Walk! Following the race, come to the Post-Race Party at CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Avenue.
For more information, contact Tim Bamforth, Seashore Strider Race Director at tim@seashorestrider.com.
Rehoboth Beach Public Library
August Events
226 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach Public Library, located at the center of downtown Rehoboth, strives to remain a vibrant part of this community. The library serves summer visitors as well as year-round residents. Check out all the events that are happening at the library in August! Special performances, activities, guest speakers, and more. Phone: (302) 227-8044.
Mark Your Calendars
Clear Space Theatre
20 Baltimore Avenue
The Submission
September 2 - September 4
THE SUBMISSION HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 2-4, 2022
Shaleeha G'ntamobi's stirring new play about an alcoholic black mother and her card sharp son trying to get out of the projects has just been accepted into the nation's preeminent theater festival. Trouble is, Shaleeha G'ntamobi doesn't exist, except in the imagination of wannabe-playwright Danny Larsen, who created her as a kind of affirmative-action nom-de-plume. But a nom-de-guerre may prove more useful as the lies pile up, shaky alliances are forged, and everyone dear to Danny must decide whether or not to run for cover as the whole thing threatens to blow up in his lily white face.
Directed by and starring Karen Richards (Clear Space credits: SISTER ACT, GHOST) THE SUBMISSION is a raw, unsentimental play about race and gender that exposes the quiet prejudice and intolerance among even our most progressive thinkers. It is both uncomfortable and impossible to not watch.
CAMP Rehoboth Sun Festival
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
A two-night event featuring headline entertainment and the return of SUNDANCE!
Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Avenue
CAMP Rehoboth is excited to announce the line-up for SUNFESTIVAL, its annual Labor Day celebration. You are invited to their biggest fundraiser of the year, which helps raise necessary funds for CAMP Rehoboth’s essential health, wellness, arts, and advocacy programming.
On Saturday, September 3rd, SUNFESTIVAL SHOW AND LIVE AUCTION kicks off the weekend with headliner comedian Judy Gold. Judy has been making audiences laugh for more than 3½ decades with her brutally honest, fearless, and no holds barred sense of humor. Judy’s stand-up specials appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, and LOGO, and she also won two Emmy awards for writing and producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Prior to the show there will be a silent and live auction so come early so you can snag one of the unique items up for bid.
On Sunday, September 4th, SUNDANCE returns after a two-year absence. Back by popular demand legendary Studio 54, Palladium, and The Saint DJ Robbie Leslie starts the night at Sundance Disco Twilight Tea playing your favorite “songs with words” under the amazing disco ball. Direct from New York, remixer, producer DJ James Anthony finishes the night with his “big room” sound.
Celebration of Rehoboth Businesses
Announcing a new Rehoboth Beach Main Street event! We all hear from time to time that “Rehoboth isn’t a good place for businesses, look how many are leaving.” So, we started listing the businesses we know have been here for a long time. We figured maybe there will be about 15-20. Nope, almost 90!!! Some have been here over 50 years! The message is “It looks like Rehoboth is a FANTASTIC place to have a business!!”
A Cling is being prepared to give to those businesses with 25+ years in downtown Rehoboth AND those that have been in downtown for 50+. All businesses and residents will be invited for the presentation at the bandstand on Wednesday, September 7 at 9:00am. Save the date!
2022 Spring Gala to Benefit Clear Space Theatre
Sunday, September 11, 6:00–9:00pm
Rehoboth Beach Country Club
Mark for calendar for the Clear Space 2022 Gala, “A Grand Night for Singing, and see the 2023 Clear Space Season Preview!
All proceeds for the event support Clear Space Theatre's mission to inspire audiences, artists, and students by providing high-quality performances and educational experiences. Help keep live theatre at the beach!
Tables for 10 ($2,000) and individual tickets ($195) are now available for purchase at Events - Clear Space Theatre.
Editor’s Note
Thank you all for your support of RBMS. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me, Peter Pizzolongo, Newsletter Editor, at PeterRBMS@gmail.com.
